People displaced by severe weather events in 2022 and 2023 will be supported by the extension of Temporary Accommodation Assistance through to 30 June 2025, the Government has announced.
“We know some people impacted by these weather events are doing it tough by having to cover costs on their uninhabitable homes, like mortgage payments, rates, and insurance, while also paying for temporary accommodation,” said Social Development and Employment Minister, Louise Upston.
“Extending this payment for another year will help them bridge the gap until repairs are undertaken or a decision is made on the future of their property.”
Temporary Accommodation Assistance is a weekly payment available from MSD to help homeowners who can’t live in their homes due to specific weather events.
On April 1, the coalition Government expanded the eligibility criteria for this assistance to include:
- People whose homes are uninhabitable but did not receive a red or yellow placard from their council;
- People who don’t have insurance for their affected property for reasons outside of their control, but had taken reasonable steps to get cover;
- People whose temporary accommodation was not previously eligible, such as flats and house sharing agreements, hire agreements for cabins, mobile homes or caravans, lodging or boarding arrangements, or commercial accommodation.
“The Government is focused on helping Kiwis who are doing it tough right now,” Ms Upston says.
More information on the rates for this payment is available here.
